The release of Google Chrome only a few days ago has really stirred some good arguments about its worth as a browser and whether Microsoft or Mozilla really need to worry.

The application shortcut feature is an interesting inclusion. What is the point of it? There are other vendors that do the same thing. They put icons and shortcuts on computers so that users can run applications that are not installed on their computer. Who are they? Citrix, Microsoft and Quest, just to name a few. In the IT industry this is typically called server based computing. So what is the difference? Google applications are Web 2.0 driven, whereas traditional application virtualization or presentation involves the installation of the applications on a server and then publishing them to users.

Application streaming is another form of application virtualization. In application streaming the applications are profiled into an isolated environment and then run on the local machine. They are not installed in the traditional sense, but do need a streaming client to handle the redirection and execution of the applications. 

Web 2.0 applications are getting more popular and are currently free. They are very good for collaboration and the sharing of information.  They are not so good from a privacy and security point of view.

Microsoft’s equivalent to Google Apps, Office Live Workspace has one million registered users. 

In time we will see a greater shift to applications delivered by the web, saving time and money for the small and medium enterprise. If Google and Microsoft could guarantee privacy and security many more people will use them.